Merely introducing migrant workers would not solve labor shortage issues, Minister of Labor Hung Sun-han (洪申翰) said, calling on industries to consider seniors and hiring young people part-time.
In an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency published today, Hung said that labor shortage issues need to be solved one step at a time.
The Ministry of Labor knows industries are calling for migrant workers, and is happy to conduct rolling reviews of the conditions of different industries, Hung said.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
There are two important prerequisites for introducing transnational labor, the minister said.
First, domestic workers’ employment opportunities and rights must be given first priority, he said.
Second, introducing transnational labor should not cause wages to remain stagnant or decline, he added.
In addition, it is important to protect migrant workers’ employment safety and labor rights, as they are statistically more likely to experience workplace accidents, Hung said.
According to Bureau of Labor Insurance data, from 2009 to 2018, the occupational accident rate for migrant workers in the manufacturing industry was almost twice that of domestic workers.
Many young people now prefer part-time or flexible work compared with full-time jobs, making it more challenging for businesses to find young people for full-time positions, Hung said.
This trend “shows that the younger generation values maintaining autonomy and flexibility in their lives,” he said.
Although the ministry does not encourage all businesses to offer part-time or flexible work, it “must do better” at helping companies adapt to this trend and protect labor rights, Hung said.
In particular, the ministry needs to ensure that employees have the necessary protections under the law, he said.
With Taiwan becoming a super-aged society, Hung also said he hopes companies can employ more middle-aged and elderly people, as these generations are becoming increasingly important to the nation’s labor market.
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